Since 2007, Vermont fisheries biologist Lenny Gerardi has been keeping records of fish that make their way up the Clyde River in Newport during the spring and fall spawning runs. Great Bay Hydro built a fish ladder at the power station below the Clyde Pond Dam as part of its re-licensing agreement. The ladder leads to a fish trap that is accessible to biologists, and it is a critical component of the Clyde River Salmon Restoration Program.

Mud Creek is a small, sluggish stream that flows from the Canadian border south to Lake Champlain. The WMA consists primarily of a mix of emergent marsh and forested swamp, which provide habitat for a variety of waterfowl, including black ducks, wood ducks, mallards and teal, as well as other wetland birds. Below the marsh, from the dam downstream to the lake, Mud Creek also offers great paddling opportunities as well as fishing. In the fall Mud Creek offers good duck hunting, especially on its main marsh, which is regulated as a controlled hunting area. From September 1st to December 31st it is open only to waterfowl hunters with a valid permit.

When it comes to learning about your hunting area and simply enjoying wildlife, there is no substitute for time spent outdoors. But game cameras are the next best thing. These motion-sensing cameras monitor what’s going on in the woods 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re looking for the buck of a lifetime or simply a better understanding of the wildlife in your backyard, game cameras provide a fun, easy way to learn more about the critters that roam your favorite neck of the woods.

Ask any trout or salmon angler on Lake Champlain about the status of the fishery and they’ll all tell you it’s getting better. For decades the parasitic sea lamprey have had a tremendously negative impact on the lakes trout and salmon population. To turn the tide on these voracious creatures fisheries biologists from Vermont, New York and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have been working together on a sea lamprey control program since the early 90’s. While the application of lampracides is all that makes the press, fisheries biologists from Vermont, New York, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service work on controlling these pests year round.

There is nothing easy about managing our natural resources. Fortunately for Vermonter’s we have a number of experienced wildlife and fisheries biologists that are extremely dedicated to the task. One of the things that make these folks so special is that for most of them, their work is much more than just a job it’s their passion.

There are some fishermen that pride themselves on being trout anglers and others that call themselves bass anglers. Thanks to a new program offered by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department we now have Master Anglers. It isn’t easy to become a master angler but you’re guaranteed to have fun trying.

The Sandbar Wildlife Management Area was the very first WMA in Vermont. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department purchased this unique piece of property back in 1920. The Sandbar WMA encompasses over 1500 acres and is located in the town of Milton, where the Lamoille River flows into Lake Champlain.

Vermont is home to dozens of migratory birds but none are as secretive and seldom seen as the Bicknell's Thrush. These birds depend on thick, high elevation balsam fir forests during their spring breeding season and are heard more often than seen. With an estimated 100,000 individual birds or less the Bicknell’s Thrush is a species of high conservation concern. Thanks to ongoing banding efforts over the last decade, researchers are discovering some of the secrets of these elusive frequent fliers.